Liverpool-based video game developer and publisher Ripstone has secured a £600,000 intellectual property (IP)–backed loan from NatWest for Queen’s Gambit.
Ripstone is the first game studio in the UK to secure a loan by using an IP as collateral.
Earlier this year, NatWest introduced an innovative IP-backed lending initiative to support scale-ups lacking tangible assets but requiring financing to drive growth.
By partnering with the specialist IP valuation firm Inngot, the bank leverages expertise in identifying and valuing intangible assets—such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks—that can be used as collateral for loans.
“As a games developer we place a really strong emphasis on having ideas heard and prototyping new games, so we’ll typically have at least three new projects on the go at any one time. Video games can often take several years to develop, so you need a strong pipeline of funding to launch them and start to generate revenue.
Our longstanding banking relationship with NatWest has been really important to enable us to leverage the value of our IP to secure finance. This loan will help the business to grow organically, allowing us to develop more original IP which gamers love, as well as providing the financial buffer to help us continue to produce the classic games like chess and pool for which we’re well known.”
Amy Wall, Finance director at Ripstone
As part of this initiative, NatWest has appointed Angela Moretta, a Specialist Technology Relationship Director, to provide Ripstone with tailored support as the company explores new growth opportunities.
“Games are a serious business for Liverpool’s economy – employing lots of people in very good jobs that provide growth to the area. However, typical loans do not always meet the funding needs of games developers, which may lack tangible assets like bricks and mortar, but more than make up for that with valuable IP.
“As a bank we want to support innovative firms like Ripstone to grow and our aim is always to enable them to leverage the ideas that really drive their success. This solution has the potential to be game changing for the industry, enabling developers to use their valuable IP to secure lending. We look forward to continuing to support Ripstone as they expand their tech capabilities and continue to lead in an increasingly competitive market.”
James Shelley, Senior Relationship Manager at NatWest
Ripstone brings 13 years of experience to the table
Leo Cubbin and Phil Gaskell founded Ripstone in 2011. The company has successfully launched 21 games, reaching an audience of 20 million players worldwide. The business has a track record of creating and publishing classic games such as chess, pool, and poker, but it also develops games based on its own original IP.
Ripstone plans to use the funding to invest in its pipeline of new projects, including the development of new IP and other classic games.
“With NatWest’s IP-backed loan, IP and intangibles can be recognised and valued as business-critical assets and used as collateral, even for smaller loans. This latest deal is further evidence that IP-backed finance is the route forwards for funding scale-up companies.”
Martin Brassell, CEO of Inngot
